James Frizelle inducted into Gold Coast Business Person Hall of Fame at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards
This year’s inductee into the Gold Coast Business Hall of Fame is a renowned Gold Coast car dealer, property investor and philanthropist.
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GOLD Coast car dealer, property investor and philanthropist James Frizelle took a decade-long break from the automotive retailing sector that was looking permanent until April Fool’s Day in 1985.
That’s when he “couldn’t help himself” and bought back into the motor trade with the purchase of Southport Mazda.
The business had just eight staff and only needed to sell nine cars a month.
The move, which came after James relocated to the Gold Coast from Sydney, proved to be the start of a three-decade long journey which resulted in the creation of a six-site dealership empire under the banner James Frizelles Automotive Group with 11 vehicle brands in southeast Queensland and NSW.
James added motor franchises like boys collect toy cars – adding Isuzu Trucks, Chrysler Jeep, Audi, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Isuzu Utes to the business.
On Saturday night James, who sold the retail motor arm of his business to a consortium including his son Brett in 2017, was inducted into the Gold Coast Business Person Hall of Fame at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards.
He joins such illustrious company as Frank Goldstein of Goldsteins Bakery and veteran developer Norm Rix.
Today James manages the family’s extensive property portfolio and uses the earnings to fund the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation.
The foundation provides funds through two grant rounds a year to registered charities that focus their attention on the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina regions.
In 18 months the foundation has provided more than $2 million in funding to more than 50 charities in the region.
James said the secrets to his success were learning about finance and understanding how borrowing can help you grow, looking after your family, people, customers and assets and hard work.
Also at Saturday’s Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards gala dinner, held at the Star Gold Coast, and attended by more than 450 of the city’s business leaders, Condev Construction was named Gold Coast Business of the Year for the second time in three years.
The company, which launched on the Gold Coast in 2002, now employs more than 100 staff and has 24 construction projects now underway.
Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards president Ian Cousins said 2020 was an “exceptionally difficult year” for Gold Coast businesses but the quality of the entries had been superb.
“I think anybody examining the finalists at The Star on Saturday night would agree they are all amazing,’’ Mr Cousins said.
“There are some incredible stories of innovation and perseverance by our Gold Coast business community but Condev was a deserving winner of the Business of the Year title.
“As well as being leaders in the construction industry, the company does an incredible amount of work for the community. Year in, year out, Condev contributes significantly to charities, sports clubs and schools in both time and funding.”
Condev was also named the annual winner of the Construction and Trades award.
The other category award winners were:
• Emerging & Micro Business Award: Zea Relief
• Family Business Award: Neumann Steel
• Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: Lauxes Grates
• Manufacturing Award: GCD Exhibitions
• Professions and Services Award: Bennett & Bennett Group
• Health and Wellbeing Award: Amtan Medical Centres
• IT and Digital Business Award: Powertec Telecommunications
• Student Employability: Cooper & Westwood Advertising
• Mayor’s Innovation GC Award: Pivotel
• Encouragement Award: Adjusta Mattress
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